Apparatus for producing solid fuei



May 25 1926.

M. J. ITRUMBLE APPARATUS FOR PRODCING SOLID FUEL Filed Feb. 9. 1924 Patented -May 25, 192,6. i

UNIT-13D STATES MIION J'. TBUMBLE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FORERODUCING SOLID FUEL Application med February t, 1924. Serial No. 691,650.

There exist in nature large deposits of low grade coal and lignite which have a potentially high fuel value but which, being only partially carbonized, are not suitable for i domestic uses and are only partially suitable for steam uses. y

llt is an object of my invention to provide an a paratus by which these low grade fuels can by which the carboni'zed residue may be converted into a valuable'domestic fuel.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

@ne embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section through one form of my apparatus.

fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an elevation at right angles to the elevation of Fig. 1 showing the type of construction used inthe crank and connection rod. ,Y

ln the form of the invention illustrated,

5 l provide a retort 11 which may be filled with the material to be treated through a chute 12 having a tight cover 13. This cover may conveniently extend above a charging floor 14. Extending centrally down into the retort 11 through the top 16 thereof is an eduction pipe 15, this pipe also extending above the charging door 14. The eduction pipe 15 extends down nearly to the bottom 17 of the retort 11 and has an open end into which a plunger 18 iits loosely, this open end being held centrally in the retort 11 b V 'means of a spider 19. The plunger 18 extends downwardly through a plunger pipe 20 and through packing 21 held in place by a gland 22 which fits tightly in the stuliing box 23. A wrist pin 24 is provided in a slot 25 in the bottom of the plunger 18, this wrist pin being engaged by a connecting rod 26. The connecting rod 26 also engages a crank in 27 carried on a crank 28 which is driven y means of a shaft 29 from any convenient source of power, not shown. Situated in the bottom of the retort 11 is a perforated steam pipe 30 which is supplied withsuperheated steam through a pipe 31 having a valve 32. A vapor takeoff pipe 3ft is connected into the top of the retort. Surrounding the eduction pipe 15, at some distance above its lower end, is a binder chamber which communie treated to remove the volatiles and,

cates with the` interior of the eduction pipe 15 through small holes 41. The binder, which is preferably a tarry substance, is introduced into the chamber 40 through a pipe 42 having a valve 43. The eduction pipe 15 may be given a supplemental heating by means of a steam chamber supplied with steam through a pipe 51 having a valve 52. A: knife 60,A having a rack 61 driven by a pinion 62, is provided at the upper end of the eduction pipe 15, this knife being so constructed that it may be driven to the right from the position shown for the purpose of cutting off compressed material extruded from the eduction pipe 15. A manhole closed by a manhole cover65 is provided near the bottom of the apparatus.

The method of operation is as follows:

The retort being charged with lignite or low grade coal through the chute 12, the top of the chute is closed by the cover 13. The eduction pipe 15 is held full of compressed solid material left from previous operations. Super-heated steam is then de'- livered to the mass of coal in the retort, the top `of the eduction pipe being closed. bythe knife which fits tightly on the top of the pipe and acts as a cover to restrain thematerial. The superheated steam raises the temperature of the mass of coal in the retort to such an extent that all of the volatiles are driven oil through the pipe 34 and the coal in the retort is reduced to a mass of coke. The shaft 29 is then turned to reciprocate the plunger 18 up and down, the coke on the down stroke of the plunger settling into the space above the plunger and being pushed up into Athe eduction pipe l5 on the up stroke. The coke may be supplied with a binder such as a tar or asphaltuin through the openings 4l. The knife 60 is movedback to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the movement of the plunger 18 forces the briquetted cokeupwardly so that it projects above the top of the leduction pipe 15. The briquettes so produced are then out off by the knife 60, forming an irregular mass which'may be used as a domestic or steam fuel; The steam chamber 50 may be employed to hardcn the briquettes by heating themjust prior to their extrusion from the eduction pipe 15.

The volatiles taken off through the pipe 34 i contain light oils and other valuable products, suc-h. as ammonium chloride and the adjacent to the other end of said retort;

means for heating the material in said retort; and a plunger so placedas to force material from the interior of said retort into the open'end of said eduction pipe.

2. An apparatus tor producing solid fuel comprising: a retort having an opening through which carbonaceous material may be introduced into said retort; means for ciecting a gas tight closure of said opening; .an eduction pipe extending through one end Wall of said retort and having an open end adjacent to the other` end ot said retort; a steam pipe through Which steam is forced into the carbonaceous material in said retort; and a plunger so placed as to force material from the interior of said retort into the open end of said eductionpipe.

3. An apparatus for producing solid fuel comprising a retort having an opening through which carbonaceous material may be introduced into said retort; means for effecting a gas tight closure of said opening; an eduction pipe extending through one. end Wall of said retort and having an open end adjacent to the other end of said retort, said eduction tube and retort being cylindrical and concentric about a vertical axis; means for heating the material in said retort; and a plunger so placed as to force material rom the interior of said retort into the open. end of said eduction pipe.

4.`An apparatus for producing solid fuel comprising: a retort having an opening through which carbonaceous material may vloe introduced into said retort; means 'for effecting a gas tight closure of said opening;

an eduction pipe extending through one end wall of said retort and having an open end adjacent to the other end of said retort, Isaid eduction tube and retort being cylindrical and concentric about a vertical axis; a steam pipe through which steam is forced into the carbonaceous material in said retort; and a plunger so placed as to force material from the interior of said retort into j the open end lof said eduction pipe. l

y 5.y An apparatus for roducmg solid fuel 'comprising a retort l aving an opening through which carbonaceous material may be introduced into said retort; means for /etlt'ecting a gas tight closure of said opening.;

van eduction pipe extending through one end Lwall of said retort and having an open said eduction pipe 4an end adjacent to the other end of said retort, said eduction tube and retort being cylindrical and concentric about a vertical axis and said open end ot said eduction pipe being adjacent to the bottom of said retort; means for heating the material in said retort; and a plunger so placed as to force material from the interior of said retort into the o en end of said eduction pipe.

` G. n apparatus for producing solid fuel comprising: a retort having an opening through which carbonaceous material may be introduced into said retort; means for effecting a gas tight closure of said opening; an eduction pipe extending through one end Wall of said retort and having an open end adjacent to the other end of said retort, said eduction tube and retort being cylindrical and concentric about a Vertical axis and said open end of said eduction pipe heing adjacent to the bottom of said retort; a steam pipe throughv which steam is forced into the carbonaceous material in said retort; and a 'plunger so placed as to force material from the interior of said retort into the open end oft saideduction pipe.

7. An apparatus for producing solid fuel comprising: a retort having an opening through which carbonaceous material may hc introduced into said retort; means for eii'ecting a gas tight closure of said opening; an eduction pipe extending through one end wall ot said retort and having an open end adjacent to the other end of said retort; .means for heating the material in said retort; means for supplying a binder to said. eduction tube; and a plunger so placed as to force material from the interior of said retort into the open end of said eduction pipe.

8. An apparatus for producing solid fuel comprising: a retort having an opening through which carbonaceous material may be introduced into said retort; means for eiiecting a gas tight closure of said opening; an eduction pipe extending through one end wall of said retort and having an open end adjacent tothe other end of said retort; means for cutting ott the material extruded through said eduction pipe; means for heating the material in said retort; and a plunger so placed as to` force material from the interior'of said retort into the open end ofv said eduction'pipe.

9. In an apparatus of the character described: a retort; an eduction pipe extending into said retort; and means for transferring material from said retort into said eduction pipe and for extruding the material from said pipe.

10.1n an apparatus of the character described; a retort; an eduction pipe extending into said` retort; and meansA for transferring materia from said retort into d* for'extruding the materialffrom said pipe, and also for comist ressing the material in said eduction pipe;

11. In an apparatus of the character described: a retort; an eductlon pipe extending into said retort; means for transeductlon pipe and for extruding the material from said pipe; and means for heatin material in said eduction pipe.

12. n an apparatus of the character de- 13. In an apparatus of lthe character described: a retort; an educ'tion pipe ex tending into said retort; means for transferring material from said retort into said pire; and means for cutting. od the material exapparatus of the character deending into sald retort; means for transpressing the material in said eduction ipe; and means for introducing a binding aterial intq said eduction pipe. 16. In an apparatus of the characater decribed: a retort; an eductionl pipe extending `nto said retort; means for transferring material from Isaid retort into said eduction ipe and for extruding the material from said pipe, and also for compressing the ma- .p terial in said eduction pipe; means for introferring material from said retort into said scribed terial from lsaid pipe,

retort; an eduction pipe ex this 31st day 17. In an apparatus of the character described: a retort; an eduction pipe extending into said retort; means for transferring material from said retort into said eduction pipe and for extruding the material `from said pipe; and means for cutting oil' the material extruded /from said eduction pi e, said means for cutting oii' the materia functioning also to close the outer end of said eduction pipe.

18. In an apparatus of the character dea retort; an eduction pipe extending into said retort; and 'means for transferring material from said retort into said eduction pipe and for extruding the masaid means comprising a reciprocating plunger.

19. In `an apparatus of the character described:l a retort; an eduction pipe extending into said retort; and means for transferring material from said retort into said eduction pipe and for extruding the material from said pipe, and also for compressing the material in said eduction pipe, said means comprising a reciprocating plunger.

20. In an apparatus of the character described: a retort; an educ-tion pipe extending into said retort; means for transferrinfg. material from said retort into said eduction pipe and for extruding the material from said pipe, said means comprising a reciprocatlng piunger; and means for introducing a binding material into said eduction pipe.

21. In an apparatus of the character described: a retort; an eduction pipe extending into said retort; means for transferring material from said retort into said eduction pipe and for extruding the material from said pipe, said means comprising a reciprocating plunger; means for introducing a binding material into said eduction pipe; and means for cutting od' the material extruded from said eduction pipe, the last mentioned means functioning4 also to close the outer end of said eduction pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California,

of January, 1924:.

Minen '.iyfrnUMnLn. 

